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Majority of U.S. Employers Holding Staff Steady for Q1 2009
December 09, 2008
Edited by Stacy Straczynski
Managers hoping to ease their overworked staffers during the New Year, may find their teams having to "hold down the fort" and continue with "progress as usual" for several more months before relief is in sight. U.S. employers are proceeding with caution when considering hiring for 2009's first quarter. And, while downsizing has temporarily ceased for the transition into 2009, esearch shows companies will not be replacing empty cubicles anytime soon.
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is a quarterly assessment by Milwaukee-based Manpower Inc that measures and projects employers' staffing intentions during the upcoming quarter. Of the 31,800 employers surveyed for the Q1 2009 projection,16% of employers anticipate an increase in their staff levels, while 13% expect a reduction in payrolls, resulting in an overall Net Employment Outlook of 3%. Sixty-seven percent of employers surveyed expect no change and 5% are undecided about their January to March hiring plans. (The percentage totals exceed 100% due to rounding.)
"A significant percentage (67%) of employers plan to hold staff levels steady for the first quarter of 2009," says Jeffrey A. Joerres, chairman and CEO of Manpower Inc. "This may suggest that a majority of employers are carefully monitoring the uncertain economic environment prior to making any additional employment decisions."
Most Sectors Show Increased Activity
Overall, the New Year rings in a positive outlook. The national survey data shows employers in eight of the 13 industry sectors surveyed will increase staff levels compared to three months ago—including Mining, Professional & Business Services, Wholesale & Retail Trade, Financial Activities, Education & Health Services, Leisure & Hospitality, Other Services and Government employers. Construction, Durable and Nondurable Goods Manufacturing and Transportation & Utilities employers anticipate a decrease in hiring, and those in the Information sector expect hiring levels to remain relatively stable for the first quarter.
Employers in the Midwest and South anticipate the strongest hiring outlook, while the Northeast is slightly less optimistic. Employers in the West are the least optimistic about hiring plans for the upcoming quarter.
"The large number of employers that plan to sit on the sidelines in terms of hiring suggests that while they may not be adding a lot of workers, they recognize that having available talent is critical to business success," said Jonas Prising, president of Manpower North America. "Employers who are smart are preparing now to be ready when the economy recovers."
Editor's Note: Download the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey results for Q1 2009 at www.salesandmarketingmanagement.com (available by permission of Manpower, Inc.). For more information, complete downloads, past Outlook Surveys and visuals from the U.S. Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, visit www.us.manpower.com/meos.
Employment services company Manpower Inc. releases the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey quarterly to measure employers' intentions to increase or decrease the number of employees in their workforce during the next quarter. It is the only forward-looking survey of its kind, unparalleled in size, scope, longevity and area of focus. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey's United States results are based on interviews with 31,800 employers located within 200 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), as defined by the federal government, and one MSA in Puerto Rico. The mix of U.S. industries within the survey follows the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Supersectors and is structured to be representative of the U.S. economy. Visit www.us.manpower.com/meos.
Sales & Marketing Management Magazine
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